Use Cat5 or Cat6, UTP or STP in Data Center

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I'm about to buy cables for our first data center install. It's all Gigabit Ethernet. Should we use Cat5 or Cat6, UTP or STP?

Best Answer

You want to use Category 6 or 6a (aka "Class Ea"), as this will allow use of 10 GigE over copper if you ever need it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Gigabit_Ethernet#10GBASE-T

Cat6 allows for 37-55m (121-180 ft) cable runs (depending on how much electrical noise there is in the environment) for 10 GigE; Cat6A allows for 100m (330 ft) runs at 10 GigE. Either will be fine for 1 GigE. If your runs are with-in the shorter lengths, then Cat6 should be sufficient. Don't think UTP or STP would make much of a difference.

I'd get quotes for 'parts and labor' for each type of cabling and see what the cost differences are: it's usually easier to "future proof" things at the beginning than retrofitting things down the road.

If you're doing any fibre you may also want to look at the costs for both OM3 and OM4 (which was just released and will help with future 40 and 100 GigE support in your DC).

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